Collapsible box.



C. H. CURRY & C. FATKIN.

GOLLAPSIB'LE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 19m.

Patent-e01 May 30, 1916.

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CHARLES H. CURRY, 0F PITTSBURGH, AND CHARLES FATKIN, OF BRIDGEVILLE,PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIJBLE BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed 51f anuary 5, 1915. Serial No. 689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. CURRY and CHARLES FATKIN, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Pittsburgh and Bridgeville,respectively. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and usefpl Improvement in Collapsible Boxes; and we dohereby declare the. following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

Our invention relates to collapsible-boxes. The object of our inventionis to provide a metal collapsible-box for transportation of merchandise,which, when assembled, pro vides a very rigid, strong construction, andone-which will withstand the severe treatment to which such boxes aresubjected in transportation; while at the same time to provide a box ofthis character so constructed that the parts may be readily and quicklytaken apart without difiicnlty, and the sides and ends inclosed withinthe bottom and top, so as to form a small compact package when the boxis returned to the original place of shipment to be reassembled andrefilled for another shipment.

To these ends our invention comprises th novel features hereinafter setforth and claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourimproved box ready for shipment; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection; Fig. 3 is a cross section; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section ofthe box collapsed with the parts inclosed between the bottom and thelid. Fig, 5 is a section on the line 55 Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line 6-6 Fig. 3.

The box is made up of sheet metal of the proper strength and in thedrawing, the numeral 2 designates the bottom-piece which has theupturned flanges 3 reinforced at the corners by the corner-pieces-4,said cornerpieces being preferably secured in place by electricalwelding, which mode of connection is illustrated and will be hereemployed in all caseswhere two parts are to be connected. In some casesit may be found expedient to rivet the parts.

The bottom 2 is reinforced along its sideflanges by the innerreinforcing strip 5. Longitudinal ribs 6 are formed on the lower face ofthe bottom 2, and between said ribs are the staples 7 protected by saidribs,

which projectslightly beyond same and on which the box rests. v

The sides 8 are formed with the stiffening ribs 9. and the lower edgesof said sides are slightly inset, as at 10, along their lower edges fora portion of the length of said sides so that when the sides are inposition, the inset portion-s are engaged by the reinforcing strips 5.

The ends of the sides 8 are provided with the inturned flanges 11 whichare adapted to engage the guides 12 in the end plates 13, as clearlyshown in Fig. 5. These guides 12 are formed by the guide-strips 14secured to the inner face of the end plates, said guide-strips havingthe flanges 15 parallel with the side-walls 8. The end plates have theinturned flanges 13 which are parallel with the flanges 15 of theguide-strips 14. By a this construction, the side-walls are slipped downinto the guide-ways from above, and the sides may be quickly and readilyconnected or disconnected with the end-plates.

The end-plates 13 at their lower edges are bent inwardly and thenoutwardly as at i3 and 17, toform the recess 18. This recess extendsbetween the guide-strips 14, and

said recess engages the inwardly extending flanges 19 of the-angle 2Owh1ch 1s secured to the endsflanges 4 of the bottom 2. The

flange 16 is slightly spaced from the inner face of the bottom plate 2to permit the outwardly-bent portion 17 to pass beneath said flange asclearly indicated in Fig. 6. In this manner the end plate is lockedsecurely in position, and requires but little effort to insert it inplace or withdraw it. The lower edge of the end-plate is slightly bentto form the inset 21, which engages the angle 20, so as to provide aclose neat fit.

The cover or lid 22 is reinforced around its edges by the angle-strip 23to give strength and rigidity to the lid. The keepers 24 are hinged tosaid lid and are adapted to engage the staples 25 on the end-plates 13.A wire-seal 26 or other connecting device may be employed to Took thekeeper in position.

When the box is assembled for the shipment of merchandise it has theappearance illustrated in Fig. 1, the parts being all connected together1n such a manner as to prevent collapse during shipment, and the cormasand edges are so reinforced as to withstand severe shocks and jolts towhich such boxes are subjected in transportation. When it is desired todisassemble the box, the lid is removed and the side pieces withdrawnfrom the guides 12, whereupon the end plates 13 may be disconnectedflOlIl'tllG bottoai. The sides and ends can then be placed within thebottom in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, and the cover or lid fittedover the bottom plate so as to inclose the whole, whereupon the keepers24 are bent over to engage the staples T on the bottom plate. A seal 26may then be applied to the staple and the parts are all securely boundtogether in a compact form ready for shipment back to the originaldestination.

What we claim is:

1. A collapsible-box comprising a bottompiece having an inwardlyprojecting horizontal portion spaced from the inner surface of saidbottom, end-pieces having horizontal recesses engaged by said inwardlyprojecting portions, sides removably engaging said end-pieces, and acover.

:2. collapsible-box comprising a bottompiece with upturned flanges andinwardly projecting horizontal portions 'arried by said l'langes andspaced above the inner surface of said bottom-piece, end-pieces havinghorizontal recesses adapted to engage said inwardly projecting portions,sides detachably secured to said end-pieces, and a cover.

A collapsible-box comprising a bottompiece having upturned flanges,angles secured to said flanges at the ends of said bottom-piece, theinwardly extending horizontal flanges of said angles being spaced apartfrom the inner surface of said bottom-piece, end-pieces havinghorizontal recesses engaged by said inwardly extending flanges,

sides detach-ably secured to said end-pieces,

.said bottom-piece, the inwardly extending horizontal flanges of saidangles being spaced from the inner surface of said bottom-piece,end-pieces bent at their ends inwardly and then outwardly to form hori'zontal recesses engaged by said inwardly extending flanges, side-piecesdetachably connected to said end-pieces, and a cover.

6. A collapsible box comprising a bottom piece, end pieces detaghablyconnected therewith, L-shaped guide *"strips on the inner faces of saidend pieces, inwardly extending flanges on said end pieces, and sideshaving inwardly extending flanges engagingthe L-shaped guides formed bysaid guide plates and the inwardly extending flanges of said end plates.

In testimony whereof, we the CHARLES H. CURRY and Cuxuuzs Fx'rmx havehereunto set our hands.

CHARLES H. CURRY. CHARLES FATKIN. Witnesses:

PHILIP GREEN,-

I LOYD Lyman.

said

